Ed Henry Shephard

April 5th, 1929 to May 14th, 2022

To Edmund (“Ed”) Henry Shephard, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, he was a performer in the theatre of life. To everyone around him, he was eternally happy, and he willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life he touched. With his joy, happiness, and energy he could evoke the most pleasant of emotions in everyone he met.

His parents were Henry William Shephard and Bertha May Shephard (nee Mills). He was born on April 5, 1929, in England. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. He couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention with his booming voice and infectious laugh.

He had two younger brothers, Peter born June 11, 1933, and Brian, May 12, 1937.

He met the love of his life, Carole Ellen Harniman, at a Halloween dance in 1956. They were married on October 31, 1959 at St.Georges Church in Willowdale. He would say "Yes, Halloween again. I still do not know who got tricked and who got treated." They went to Bermuda for their honeymoon for ten glorious days.

The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped him raise his three beautiful daughters Katherine Ann Hoag, Heather Lynn Fountain, and Penny Jane Wilson. He was also blessed with seven amazing grandchildren, Alex Hoag, Michael Hoag, Kevin Hoag, Mandy Couper nee Fountain, Daniel Fountain, Hunter Wilson, and Grace Wilson. If he was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of his attention was directed. He would spend hours sharing his stories and his zest for life.

He looked upon life as a journey and felt passionate about communicating his story. Hence, he wrote a family history that will be treasured always. Reading through the pages I can envision him telling the stories. His childhood was both adventurous and heroic. These are his recollections during this time.

MY STORY

I was born on April 5th, 1929, in Highams Park, Essex (London), England. We lived at 106 Whitehall Gardens, Chingford Essex until 1937.

On September 3, 1939, World War II was declared. Peter and I were evacuated from London to Quendon, Essex to Mr. and Mrs. Bonfield's home. Mr. Bonfield being the head cowman for Sir William-Foote Mitchell Squire of Quendon Hall. Mother and Brian went to Colchester, Essex.

October 1939 - This date is a bit vague in my mind, but Mum and Brian were reunited with us in Quendon. However, we remained at the Bonfield's until we moved to The Rectory. Dad then, at some time during this period, was able to get a lease on The Lilacs. I know it was before Christmas as I do not remember having a Christmas at anyone else's house. Our schooling was still under the Cof E School at a camp

called “The Howells”. We did not attend the local village school. My teacher at the time was a Miss. Mays, and Mr. Williamson. The later became an army officer and was later killed in Italy in the War. It was always thought that they had something going for each other but there was never any proof.

My Dad lived at 7 Mount Echo Ave and was in London, and served with the local ARP (Air Raid Precautions) as a warden and fire-watched at 16 Finsbury Circus with R.J.E. Dodds every other weekend throughout the War. Dad's occupation was an essential one, and therefore he did not have to serve in the armed forces but, in my estimation, took as many chances as those who served. He started work in 1919 with Eagle Oil and Shipping Co, a Shell subsidiary, stayed with Shell until he retired in 1965. He would come down to Quendon every other weekend.

By mid-Summer 1940, we returned to London as things had quieted down on the War front.

By mid-August 1940, the daylight raids started, but we remained in London. Before the War, I had been a keen Wolf Cub. On our return, the pack was not operating because the leaders were now all serving in the Army, so I went up to the Scouts of the 37th Chingford, and spent some Saturday afternoons watching the dogfights overhead during the Battle of Britain. The most memorable was the day they set the Port of London on fire.

During September 1940, Fred and Margaret Foster were evacuated to the USA and thus starts the correspondence that will eventually send Peter and I to live with Mr. and Mrs. Vann. This date is approximate.

October 1940, after the night raids started, Mum stuck it out for a few weeks. I got fed up with trying to sleep in the shelter (in actuality, it was like a large well casing set in the back garden with a strong roof and earth piled around it, so I moved back into the house to sleep). Consequently, we returned to Quendon only to find that the Wiltshire Regiment had moved in and requisitioned The Lilacs. Hence, we had to start afresh and stay with another family until the regiment left Quendon and we returned to The Lilacs.

I started school at Newport Grammar School, founded in 1564. Newport was about 3 miles from Quendon, and we all cycled to school daily as there was no other means of transportation.

Winter 1941, sometime during this period, I remember being in school relatively early one morning. When I looked up into the morning sky and saw that what came through the overcast clouds was a Dornier 215. We all knew most aircraft by sight and the sound. This aircraft commenced machine-gunning the train on the tracks about a ½ mile away. The train had just dropped off its load of pupils for the school a few yards up the tracks, but fortunately he missed. There were no casualties, and the train continued on its way. I think the bomber was shot down or crashed after running out of fuel.

On February 26, 1941, Father comes to my school to take us to London to prepare for our trip to Florida. All of the next week we spent getting passports, visas, etc.

March 5th, 1941, we go by sleeper train with Father to Glasgow to board the Eagle Oil and Shipping Co San Gerardo, a 6000-ton oil tanker built in the early 1920s under the command of Captain Gumbleton, for our voyage to New York. We are at sea for three weeks, the first week in convoy and then on our own with big seas nearly all the way. What an adventure for a 12 year old (me), and 8 year old (Peter), with our friend Derek Jennings who we have lost complete track of. Derek, just for the record, was 13.

March 6, 1941, we set sail from Greenock. Unbeknownst to us at the time, the Scharnhorst and the Gneisenau, two German battleships, were out during this same period on operation from Berlin and could have crossed our path on our approach to New York. For the record, the San Gerardo oil tanker, was hit by two torpedoes from U71 and sank southeast of New York on March 31st, 1942.

March 27, 1941, we arrived in New York during the evening and sailed under the shadow of the Statue of Liberty. We stayed in New York until the following Tuesday and were squired around by the Shell family.

March 30, 1941, we leave New York Central Station in sleepers cars heading to Florida.

April 1st, 1941, we arrived in a town called Flomaton, Alabama, and were met by Mr. Dubois Antonio “Major” Vann Senior and Mrs. Olive “Auntie” Vann (nee Gurin). We went to our new home, 1404 Lakeview Blvd East Pensacola, Florida.

We had literally gone to paradise being flotsam thrown up on a shore by the winds of war. The Vann's had two cars, a Dodge and a Packard with a rumble seat which was later replaced by a Cadillac. Major was Vice-President of a local bank and the local oil company. They had two servants, Lousindy, a maid cook, and James, gardener and butler. I could tell some stories regarding racial prejudice that would curl your hair. Of course, it was at the time beyond us, but when you look back it was not right. Living in London pre-War, one was used to seeing some people of colour, but mainly dressed in their tribal costumes with no notice or prejudice being shown, but then we took it as part of life.

The Vann's also owned a ranch (“FLYING V”) approximately 1500 acres right off the Mississippi River at a place called Geismar Louisiana (Off the main highway at Gonzales between New Orleans and Baton Rouge). Later, we would have our own horse and be allowed to help with the cattle and fence riding.

August 1941, we journeyed by car over 600 miles in one day on our first summer vacation in Ashville, NC, to escape the heat of summer as we had no air conditioning at home. No one had air conditioning. On the way home, we stopped in Atlanta, and I forgot my watch under my pillow at the hotel. Isn’t it funny what you remember and what you cannot recall for the life of you?

September 1941, I attended A.V.Clubbs Junior High School in Grade 8, I think it was.

December 7, 1941, what a Sunday this was with Pearl Harbour and all!

December 8, 1941, being the only pupil in the school with any idea of War, I was peppered with questions all day but being only 12, what did I know.

Winter 1942, or sometime during this period, the son D.A.Vann Junior, who ran the farm, was called up for service as he was in the naval reserve. Major and Auntie had to commute between Pensacola and Geismar every month to look after things there, so we had a lady come in and babysit us.

Summer 1942, of course, we started commuting as well, but it was a hard summer for all concerned because of a polio epidemic. The Vann’s were afraid we would get it, so no movies, no swimming, not even at the beach. Funny that your mother (Carole) should have been a victim of polio some miles north of where we were.

Due to the problems at the ranch, it was decided that Peter and I would go to boarding school at Bay St Louis, Mississippi. The school was St. Stanislaus College which was halfway between the two points, and it was an RC School. I do not know why but Fred Foster (my friend from England) was at the same school. I was enrolled as a high school freshman.

As far as sports were concerned, I played tennis until I was blue in the face, and that was about all. I used the wall of the handball courts.

1943-1944, things remained pretty well the same throughout this year.

1945, in May of this year, Major Vann passed away. Mrs. Vann decided that she could not look after us by herself, so it was that summer, that we would return to the UK.

July, 1945, we travelled by train from Pensacola to New York to join a bigger group of returnees to board a small aircraft carrier, the “HMS SMITER”. I believe it was returning to the UK post War. The return journey took about a week, and we were in convoy all the way. It was a great trip as nearly all the crew had families, and they all made a great fuss over us. I was exceptionally fortunate to be sleeping in the sick bay with none of the restrictions of the others in the group.

I returned to Newport Grammar School not to the delight of the old physics teacher Major Walker, as he was not quite sure if I would be toting an American six gun. But the main thing was that my very slick American clothes did not fit in with the white stiff collared school shirts, ties and caps we had to wear. There were American troops everywhere, and I could always make a shilling or two by reciting all 48 American States or the list of American presidents. Of course, I had also returned from the States with a baseball bat, glove and ball, which made me quite popular but not with the sports master Mr. ”Spud” Taylor, who was quite upset when a few baseballs landed on the sacred cricket pitch.

Summer 1945, we returned to Chingford from Quendon and I went to Chingford County High School in the Fall. It was here that rugby sort of picked me up, and I played for the school 15 in second row forward position. Somewhat mysteriously at 125 lbs.

Spring 1946, I sat my school leaving certificate and had an interview for the Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co. I had to await the results into the late summer to start work in the Freight Dept. at 5 Bishopsgate London. I started playing rugby for the Chingford Club, but I had started in a back position more suited to my size and speed. Remember though, tennis is still my main game.

As many young men were in these days, Ed was drafted into service at eighteen years old. He stepped forward bravely as he felt it was his duty to service his country as so many had before him. Here are his reflections of this time.

MY SERVICE DAYS

Spring 1947, I receive my orders to report for service and, through my dad’s connection with someone in the Labour Department, get into the Royal Air Force UK. Before leaving that summer, I took a week-long bicycle tour across Ireland with Uncle Fred (Henry and Herbert’s Dad).

July 3, 1947, I report to Padgate for the start of my service days, and then I am sent to Bridgenorth for the ten weeks of basic training.

September 1947, I passed my basic training and went on to No.# 1 Radio School Cranwell site of the officers training college to become a radio telephone operator in airport control. It was a ten-week course, and I passed with an AC1 rating (one above the bottom). I hitchhiked home on Highway #1 most weekends and would return by coach at midnight from King’s Cross Station.

Fall 1947, my first actual posting is to Upper Heyford No. 1 Parachute and Glider Training School, where I start work in the homer van, but I am soon transferred to the tower and work on the “C” Charlie distress channel that operated 24 hours a day. I am transferred to Weston on the Green, a very small informal station and work in drop zone control.

Early 1948, I was transferred to Fairford Transport Command, and since the section needed an NCO, I went to Dagenham for a trade test for LAC, passed and was promoted to Corporal. How proud I am.

Fall 1948, Fairford was closing, so I was transferred to Manston in Kent and became the NCO in charge of a control tower watch which is manned 24 hours a day. I was posted as a LAC, but having been promoted, they changed my posting to Corporal. Sometime during this time, I was sent on an NCO disciplinary course to learn how to march a squad, but it was very easy for me as I had just completed basic training not long before. The fellows who had been in all through the war as techies did not have a clue. While here, I met up with my school buddy Joe Webb to play rugby for the station. So on the weekends, if I did not get a pass, I played some of my most interesting rugby.

Fall 1948 , my Dad gets a chance to take a position with Shell Oil in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and takes it. He nearly did not make it as he passed all the Shell medicals but at the last minute was told he had to pass the Canadian Medical, where they held him up because of an old inactive TB scar on his lungs.

February 1949, Mother, Peter and Brian leave for Canada.

July 21, 1949, I was discharged from the RAF and started back to work at Anglo Saxon. I live with Auntie Blanche, cousin Lucille's mother, at 86 King Edward Rd Edmonton.

Winter 1950, sometime during this period, I decided that I would join the family in Canada and book a passage for the Fall.

August 15th, 1950, I decided that I should leave earlier as the Korean War was very hot. My Dad said if there is to be a fight, I may as well get the higher pay of a Canadian serviceman.

August 22nd, 1950, I arrive in Quebec. While on board the ship, I met John Hamilton, who was to become a lifelong friend. He was in the top bunk, and I was on the bottom in a four berth cabin.

When I arrived, my mother was quite sick with phlebitis, so I spent the first week being a nurse. I got a job at BA Oil, but it was not a very interesting one, so I quit and late in September, I got another job with Cunard Steamship Company.

Peter, although still at school, joined the Wanderers RUFC. So, of course, I joined as well to become a pair. I was scrum half, and he was a fly half, the pairing remaining until I stopped rugby in 1957 or 58.

FOR THE JOY OF SKIING

Ed was an active member of Craigleith Ski Club which he joined during the Club's inaugural season in 1958. He become member "Ed Shephard S150". He took great pleasure welcoming fellow club members for an après ski tipple at his cabin-on-the-hill.

For many years he was involved with the Canadian Ski Patrol System both as a patroller and as a first-aid instructor.

Skiing was his ultimate passions in life. His eyes would light up and sparkle just at the mention of snow. He and Len Cordrey, his lifetime friend and ski buddy, would perform crazy snow dances, in their long underwear, around the coffee table at the cottage. He could talk for hours and had many tall tales about his skiing adventures. Hence the whole family learned to ski and as Warren Miller would say, "The family that bitches together skis together."

He had an instantly recognizable "Yodel Lady Oh" or a holler "To keep your knees together" that would come from the chairlift above as he passed overhead. And of course his happy pants (certainly they made him faster) will be etched in our minds forever.

These are his reflections on skiing.

September 1950, with my very first pay cheque, I buy a pair of leather Bass ski boots (approx. $40.00) and a set of steel ski poles at AL & W, one of two or three sports stores in Toronto that sold skis. I buy the best Norwegian Bonna skis with bear trap bindings through a friend. This started my love affair that I hope will last until the end of my days.

My first remembrance of Craigleith Ski Club was a flyer put under my windshield while skiing at Blue Mountain. I made a fatal phone call to Doug Bowie, who took me out to lunch, and I was hooked and still am from that day forward.

Of course, the first meeting was at the "Y" on Yonge St, Toronto, and it was quite a crowded room.

My then girlfriend, now my wife (Carole), and I took a trip up to the club with Len and Betty Cordery. We took a walk in the bush somewhere. It was the future spot where the Backstairs meets the NW passage today. We were knee deep in snow, thinking we would ski till May with that amount of snow. What optimism!

During that summer I took, my ski patrol instructor course and passed. As always, at the beginning of every course, I said that anyone who wanted good skiing with very few occurrences, should come to our club. It was always a stiff sell because everyone wanted the social life of Blue. In the early days, many of our members were ski patrollers from Blue. Some who took me up became members afterward, some for a short time, and others for the entire course.

I think the first day we operated was January 15th, 1959. Our T-bar was the first in the area. What an accomplishment!

We had a great season, even if we did have to cut our racing poles from the bush and pile up snow to hold them. Club races were held, and nearly everyone entered, even my wife.

In the first season, we held an open week where our club was open for a full week, with lessons provided for a very elite group. The week was started with a roast beef dinner at the San Mar, which became a tradition for a few years.

Sometime in the spring of 1960, there was meeting of the seven families who had decided they would build on the offered lots and a draw was held. You picked your lot when your name came out of the hat.

Summer 1960, we began building our grand cottage, all 360 square feet of it on club property. It had no facilities like running water, sewers or heating. We thought we were in heaven. At least I did!

We all had a great time building, including when the hydro inspector came around and saw our arrangement with a single line running from the T-bar terminal to a single work pole. The load was such that only one person could saw wood at the same time. By the way, he just tooted, turned away and remarked that he had not seen it.

Summer 1973, our cabin was moved by the club, to make way for the now North Chair, we expanded it by adding a basement and an additional 12 feet for a grandiose total of 1,120 square feet.

Ed was the ultimate super skier and was able to keep his skis sliding down the slopes until he was 79 years old just shy of his 80th Birthday.

Ed had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and his enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. These traits assisted him in planning extraordinary life experiences for people as a travel agent. He was owner and operator Saunders Travel Agency until he retired. Being in the biz his travels were extensive. He treasured travelling with his family, teaching them about the world, and exploring nature while making precious memories with the ones he loved. He become a certified scuba driver so he could expand his experiences to enjoy what is beneath the surface of the oceans. He shared many of his diving adventures with his daughter Katherine.

TRAVEL

1947 April, before I go to the RAF, I travel with Uncle Fred. We cycle across Ireland for one week. The weather was not too bad but what a difference from the UK as we still had rations in the UK food department.

1951 December, I am a conductor for the Cunard Line Christmas sailing from Halifax via Cobh to Liverpool. I visit the Cunard head office in Liverpool and London and travel by the boat train for a Queen Elizabeth sailing from Southampton. I hired my first car in London and had a really good time with my school chum, Joe Webb. I returned to New York in January 1952, and while there I saw the musical My Fair Lady.

1954, I travelled by bus to Atlantic City then onto New York and flew to Toronto on my first commercial flight.

1955 March, I take the train and bus to Quebec City for a week of skiing at Manoir St, Castin just outside the city.

1956, I go to Gray Rocks, Quebec for a week or two and drive.

I take my first trip to the Caribbean. Visiting Kingston, Ocho Rios and Montego Bay in Jamaica. Next on to Havana for an afternoon, then to Miami and onwards to Nassau and then home via Miami. All prop planes.

1957 March, I go to Gray Rocks, Quebec for a week with Peter, we drive.

1958 March, I go to Gray Rocks Inn, Quebec for a couple of weeks.

October - I fly by the first Pan Am Boeing 707 service from New York to Rome. We landed in Goose Bay, Newfoundland and changed planes in Paris. I visited Rome in Italy, Davos, Lucerne, Interlaken, Geneva in Switzerland, then Paris, France, and of course a long weekend in London to visit family.

1959 travelled to Bermuda for Carole’s and my honeymoon. This was Mum’s first flight and trip out of Canada.

1965 Fall, I travel to Acapulco Mexico City and Puerto Vallarta.

1969 October, I fly to Tokyo & Kyoto in Japan, Hong Kong and Bangkok, Thailand as a familiarization trip and to provide Premier Davis with advanced information of the hotels for Expo.

Spring brings a ski trip to France with Swissair, and the French government with Tony Arquist as tour director from Swissair. We visited Courchevel & Tignes and ended up in Chamonix, France. Here we had an absolutely marvelous day of skiing, the only day of sunshine of the whole trip. The last run was just the best starting out right from the top at Grande Montete in powder and ending up with water up to our ankles. This was with Elinora Scott-Iverson who I was to run into at Whistler in 1989, 20 years later.

1970 In the fall of that year, Mum and I go to Hawaii and we just went to Honolulu. On the return CN was on strike so since we were on reduced passes Mum had to standby and I went onto Calgary for a quick run to the Rockies. I was so impressed we all went the next year.

Business trip to Switzerland

1971 August, the whole family travels to the Rockies on our first of many trips by air.

1972 August, I won a trip for two to BC and by a stroke of luck we were able to get all five of us in for a little extra. We visited Vancouver, Victoria Pacific, Rim Park Harrison & Hot Springs. We rented a car and camped when we were on our own.

1973, we all fly to the UK with Nan and Grandpa and toured around the West Country in a camper van and then spent a week with Cousins Henry and Ella.

1974, the Maritimes much to Penny’s disgust, we do not fly but go by car with Grandma Harniman. We camp most of the way with the tent trailer.

1975, we visit the Rockies again. Cousins Henry and Ella, from England, join us in Calgary. We do really a repeat itinerary and visit one evening with Uncle Henry and Auntie Winnie in Osawuse.

1976, this is Nan and Grandpa’s Fiftieth Anniversary year. We travel to Florida in a campervan and tents. On the return journey we pick up Auntie Blanche in Philadelphia to bring her to the party. It was a great success with the 50th Anniversary and the slide show was a big hit. I certified as a scuba diver that spring so I could dive the Florida Keys.

1977, the Family fly to California visit Palm Springs, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and National Parks, Reno, San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, Los Angeles and San Simone. We camp and use hotels.

1978, a family trip to Lake Louise skiing during the school break March.

This summer we go to Jamaica with Grandma Harniman and stay in Montego Bay.

1979, we travel to Lake Louise, skiing during the school break in March with Len Cordrey and his family.

This summer we visit Barbados for two weeks with Grandma Harniman and survive or rather just as hurricane David just missed the Island.

1980, we again visit Lake Louise skiing for the March break.

Carole and I in June, visit Antigua and St. Kitts, flying on BWIA on the in between islands flights. It was very good despite all their problems.

This summer we go to Hawaii with Grandma Harniman. Katherine is now at work so cannot be with us. We visit Honolulu and Maui.

1981 April, I visited India, New Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur in India for just one week. We were supposed to go out on a Thursday but the flight from Toronto had a generator fire and had to turn back to Toronto.

Our first trip with the dive club to Barbados.

1982, we go to Jamaica with the dive club.

I go to Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands with a tour company.

Mum and I go to France starting in Paris and do a weeks touring. What a trip. This seems to be a bit out of order as I lost my passport and had to get a replacement to go to Tobago the next month.

1983 We go to Grand Cayman with the dive club.

1984 Mum, Penny and I take a trip to Mexico visiting Merida, Akumal, Cozumel and Cancun. We drive a car all the way seeing many of the ruins.

Cayman Islands Annual Dive Trip with Scarborough Underwater Club. I am joined this time with Carole, Katherine, Kyle, and Heather. The diving was spectacular on this trip including a night dive on a wreck. We also went during Pirates Week and toured the Island.

1985, went to the UK with Mum and Penny, we stayed in bed and breakfasts this time visiting York Lake District Edinburgh. We saw the Tattoo Inverness the Isle of Skye and then Cranwell (I went to trade school here when in the RAF) and Quendon where the family stayed during the War and then back to Henry and Ella’s.

1985 went on the Dive club trip to Barbados Annual Dive Trip with Scarborough Underwater Club. Katherine was able to join us this time. Explored many dive sights including some wrecks. We also toured the Island extensively including a day on a pirate ship drinking lots of rum punch.

Go to Bonaire

1986, Spring of this year we are invited for a weekend cruise on the Jason from Nassau to their Island and Freeport and back to Nassau. Not too good a ship but when it visited the smaller islands the next year we decided that the ports of call were too good to be missed and they had painted her and refurbished the whole vessel.

We go to Bonaire with the dive club.

1988 we go with Thompson Vacations on the Jason again and very small cruise ship that visited so many smaller islands that the big vessels do not get into. Great diving and saw my first large sharks up close.

Business trip to Portugal with TAP

Somewhere in here we went to the Dominican Republic with Louise and Gerry.

1989 Spring we went to Whistler with Red Warren and stayed at Mateo and Heather’s. On the Monday I was skiing with someone I hooked up with and asked two other people to join us on the lift and it turned out to be Elinora Scott-Iverson from the French trip twenty years ago.

1990 Spring with Len, Ron, Chris, Peter Townsend and his cousin, we all stay at Heather and Mateo’s who give us the run of the house while they are in Europe. We ski a couple of days with Elinora and Len. I skied with her at Blackcombe Glacier for the first time. It had been cloudy all day but cleared just as we got to the starting pitch. We had the whole of the run to ourselves until we were two-thirds down. A run I will never forget. Attended the ITP meeting at the end of the holiday. Flew back business class.

1991 was our first trip after my heart attack, we went to the Turks and Caicos Islands

1992 Mum and I travel to Costa Rica and stayed at Jaco Beach. Really did enjoy the trip.

1993 Mum and I go to Costa Rica again with grandma Harniman and Barbara (Carole's friend) stayed a short while in the capital San Jose and then on to Jaco Beach.

February 12th to 20th I went out to Vancouver, then flew to Calgary. I met Carole and Barb there and we drove through to Vancouver via Jasper and then skied Whistler with Ed Kirkpatrick while the girls went to a doll convention in Vancouver.

1994 In the Fall of this year, Mum and I met up with Henry and Ella in Vancouver. We stayed a couple of days and then took a short trip to Whistler and stayed with Heather and Mateo. On to the Star Princess for a cruise up the Inside passage to Alaska.

1995 November, Mum and I take the Star Princess again to the Eastern Caribbean.

1996 October, Mum and I go to the Club Med in Florida for a ITP convention and then meet Ian and Penny as they were going on a cruise out of Cape Canaveral. We visit the Space Centre as Ian had not been before. Barbara then flew down and joined us. We went on a Western Caribbean Cruise with Royal Caribbean on the Majesty of the Seas sailed on the 27th October.

1997 Spring, we visit Penny and Ian in Alberta. We ski at Lake Louise and Sunshine. Mum gives up skiing after a bad fall on the last run of the day. While there we drive Going-to-the-Sun Road and Waterton National Park. What a magnificent drive and Penny comes with us.

1999, Summer of this year we travel to Penny and Ian's in Canmore, Alberta. We are there just after Hunter’s birth. We are joined by Henry and Ella. We drive to Victoria, Vancouver, then take the ferry to Port Angeles and down the Pacific coast. We turn to the north to go to Mount St Helens, the volcano mountain most impressive. On to the Columbia River and Mount Hood (Summer Ski resort most unimpressed as all ski resorts are not pretty in their off season), and then through the Prairies and on to the Highway of the Sun, but we did not go over as it was raining and very windy and I did not think it was worth the possibility of snow anywhere en route. Back to Penny’s home.

2001 We drive out to Penny’s took a week out and a week back. It was very hot and we had the old Cavalier but the car took it all in stride. It was a trip of a lifetime. We used mainly bed and breakfast. We are there for the birth of Grace.

2002 Spring we again visit Penny with Ron McBain. We skied together most of the time but I came down with the flu and twisted my back. We have the Ford Explorer what a gas guzzler but a great van.

2005 we go on a cruise with Heather, Dave, Mandy and Daniel on the Star Princess. We stop in Princess Cays, Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Mexico. What a great time. We swam with the dolphins in Mexico. Hopefully this is the beginning of a series of holidays and we hope it continues.

2006 we go on another cruise with Heather, Dave, Mandy and Daniel on the Carnival Destiny which departed from San Juan, Puerto Rico. We stopped at St. Thomas, Dominica, Barbados & Aruba. Had an amazing day body surfing in Barbados.

Went west to visit Penny, Ian, Hunter and Grace.

2007 we go on another cruise with Heather, Dave, Mandy and Daniel on Sun Princess for ten days stopping at Antigua, St. Lucia, Grenada, Martinique, St Thomas and Princess Cays.

2008 Alberta to see Penny and family. Heather, Dave, Mandy and Daniel joined us for some family hiking and exploring.

2010 visit Penny and family, went to Golden to see the wolves.

2011 Alaska cruise with Penny, Ian, Hunter, Grace and Louise. Little did we know Heather and Dave surprised us at the hotel in Vancouver and joined us on the cruise.

Then we went to Penny’s for a visit.

2014 Alberta Trip with Carole, myself, Katherine and Kevin. Explored Canmore and Banff.

2016 Alberta Trip with Carole, myself, Katherine, Aunt Louise, and Kevin. Explored Canmore, Banff, and went to the Columbia Icefields. The highlight of the trip was a helicopter ride over the mountains in Canmore, Alberta.

Ed's outgoing personality, lively imagination and enthusiasm for life allowed him to be constantly on the go. He was always sharing his knowledge and extreme joy of nature with all. He took great pride and pleasure in growing his garden. His gardening attire was a pair of shorts and rubber boots that showed off his wonderful bony knees. He would share his freshly grown veggies with neighbours, friends and the Food Bank.

He did not have a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved sharing his energy, wit, and zest for life, which shone through all his activities with his family, and friends. Ed Henry Shephard lived life to its fullest and made everyone around him happier just for knowing him. He will be remembered for his unique personality that will always bring a smile to your face.

In a letter to his family he wrote:

Thanks, it has been a great ride. See you.

Dad

Penny's Eulogy

Thank you Dad

Thank you everyone for coming to my dad’s celebration of life.

My Dad had a true love for his family, travel, skiing, gardening, scuba driving, rugby, baseball and tennis.

Both my dad and I spoke at my parents 50th wedding anniversary. I changed my speech two days before. Even though I had not seen my Dad’s speech, in the end we both ended up talking about how dropping something in the water sends out ripples and how those ripples affect other parts of the water. My Dad was great at making his ripples affect people in the best way. His ripples were felt mostly by his wife, his children, his grandchildren and his extended family.

He showed his love for his family by spending time with us. He taught us how to use tools and how to ski, and we had amazing family vacations never to be forgotten.

He showed me that family time is important. One of my earliest memories with my dad is baking cakes for the Father Daughter cake bake contest in elementary school. He did this with all three of his daughters. We would bake our cake, laugh and have fun just the two of us. Looking back now I realize there were not a lot of cake entries; not many Dad’s took the time to do something with their kids that maybe wasn’t in their wheel house.

He loved a good adventure. He showed us so much of the world and how to appreciate what we had. We took many spring break trips skiing, to Disney and beyond. One of my favourite travel memories is coming across a natural water slide that both tourists and locals were sliding down. We didn’t have our swim suits but we got right in there.

My Dad showed great patience. We took a trip to England and I was in the stage in life when I alI wanted to do was shop. He took me down to High Street in London and did not give me a time limit. He just sat on a bench outside each shop as I went from place to place. That day will forever rest in my memories.

He was the energizer bunny to all of us. We were on an Alaskan cruise and he was playing ping pong with his grandkids. A lady came up to Heather & I and asked how old he was. When we told her 82 she couldn’t believe it.

When he would come out to visit me in Alberta we enjoyed long dog walks together, talking about life. I will miss our walks greatly.

Through all my Dad’s teachings he taught me the greatest thing of all is to choose Joy everyday.

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SHEPHARD, Edmund “Ed” Henry

April 5, 1929 – May 14, 2022

It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we announce that Edmund “Ed” Henry Shephard passed away on May 14, 2022 at the age of 93. A last kiss and wave goodbye to his beloved wife Carole Ellen Shephard.

Loving dad of Katherine (Kyle) Hoag, Heather (Dave) Fountain and Penny (Ian) Wilson; cherished grandchildren Alex Hoag, Michael Hoag (Brook-lynn Byrne), Kevin Hoag, Mandy (Nicholas) Couper, Daniel Fountain, Hunter Wilson (Nicky Connell) & Grace Wilson (Olivia McComb).

He was a happy go lucky person with a huge loving soul. He was always full of energy, always willing and available to help wherever he could. Known for his love of skiing, nature, gardening, adventure and travel. He had a booming voice and infectious laugh that always filled a room and will forever be fondly remembered by all. As he would say, “Thanks, it has been a great ride.”

The family would like to thank the many front line emergency personnel and staff at the Peterborough Regional Hospital. A Remembrance of Ed will be taking place on Sunday July 17, 2022 from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm at Comstock-Kaye Life Celebration Centre, 356 Rubidge Street, Peterborough. The family will request their guests wear masks.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice. In his memory he would like everyone to give thought to becoming an organ and blood donor. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Comstock-Kaye Life Celebration Centre, Peterborough. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.comstockkaye.com for the Shephard family.